Helping Shape the Future of Suicide Loss Support

TAPS, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, is inviting people who have lost a loved one to suicide to take part in the National Suicide Survivor Survey. The research initiative is meant to elevate the voices of suicide loss survivors and to inform the future of suicide prevention, bereavement support and postvention, which is the support provided after a suicide death. The survey is open to adults 18 and older.

TAPS says it has provided care and resources for more than 30 years to families grieving the death of a service member or Veteran, regardless of the cause of death. Its stated concern is that the perspectives of those closest to a suicide loss are too often missing from the research and conversations that shape services, programs and policies. The survey was developed through a research collaboration involving TAPS, the Navy SEAL Foundation and the University of Memphis.

Survey participants are asked to describe what they observed before their loved one died, the support they received afterward, the challenges they encountered and the resources that helped them move forward. The source article says the findings will be used to develop survivor-informed recommendations. Those recommendations focus on strengthening outreach to bereaved families, improving access to appropriate care, identifying gaps in existing support systems and advancing effective postvention practices. The knowledge gained could inform how military, Veteran, healthcare and community organizations respond to suicide loss.

The people eligible to participate are broad. TAPS specifically points to surviving spouses, parents, children, siblings, fellow service members and other loved ones. The article does not limit participation by disability rating, state, benefit enrollment or branch of service. The only stated condition is being 18 or older and having experienced the death of a loved one by suicide.

The practical details are few but useful. The survey takes approximately 12 to 25 minutes, and every question is optional, so participants can share only what they feel comfortable sharing. TAPS acknowledges that every suicide loss is different and that no single experience represents all of them. The source does not give a closing date or say when results will be released, so we cannot say when findings might shape any policy.

For disabled veterans, this matters in several ways. Many of us have lost friends, fellow service members or family to suicide, and many of us have also been the person others worried about. The research ties prevention and postvention together, noting that survivors may offer perspectives on warning signs and opportunities for intervention. Better support for grieving families also affects the people who may depend on a veteran, or whom a veteran depends on, within the larger benefits and care picture.

If you are eligible and feel ready, consider taking part, knowing you can skip any question and stop at your own pace. If a loss is recent or this topic is heavy, it is reasonable to wait or to ask someone you trust to be with you. Whether or not you take the survey, you can reach out to TAPS, your VSO or your local VA for grief and bereavement support. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line.